Wave suppressor and sediment collection system

ABSTRACT

A system and method to provide water and sediment flow through a dam or rock jetty, including a plurality of flow pipes positioned through the dam or jetty to receive water carrying sediment and a principal flow pipe to receive flow from the plurality of flow pipes and to deposit water and sediment a predetermined distance to the rear of the dam or jetty. A continuous trough may be mounted on the jetty forward face to efficiently capture water and sediment at entrances of the plurality of flow pipes. A system and method is also provided to suppress wave action against a shoreline and to collect sediment to build up the shoreline, comprising shelves extending out from a front wall of each body section, below a plurality of flow pipes, the shelves for shearing a wave and dispersing and using wave energy to direct sediment through the flow pipes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/576,359, filed 9 Oct. 2009 (issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 8,226,325 on 24Jul. 2012), by the same inventor, incorporated herein by referencethereto.

Priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/576,359, filed 9 Oct.2009, which is incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.

International Application Serial No. PCT/US2010/052182, filed 11 Oct.2010, which was published on 14 Apr. 2011 and bears Publication No.WO2011/044556, is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to protection from coastline erosioncaused by wave action or tidal surge and the restoration of coastlinelost from such wave action or tidal surge activity. More particularly,the present invention relates to a wave suppressor and sedimentcollection system (sometimes referred to as the WSSC System) which istransportable and can be installed along a coastline which provides asufficient barrier to disrupt the tidal wave flow into the coastlinewhile at the same time allowing sediment to be carried through thesystem by the wave action and water currents and to be trapped anddeposited at points between the system and the coastline to allowcoastline restoration to occur.

2. General Background of the Invention

The loss of valuable coastline for states along the Gulf of Mexico,Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean is a very serious problem. For example,using the Gulf of Mexico as an example, for thousands of years, the flowof the Mississippi during flood stages, carried rich soil and sedimentinto Louisiana and the result was the creation of a vast fertileMississippi River delta region which was inhabitable and where cropscould flourish. In recent times, with the discovery of oil and gasbeneath the Louisiana coast, oil companies have built a vast system ofcanals in order to allow boats and self-contained drilling rigs to betransported inland in order to recover the oil and gas. This vast systemof canals has allowed the intrusion of salt water into the lower delta,and by doing so has killed off thousands of acres of valuable marshland, which had helped maintain the valuable soil in place. In addition,the marshland served as a first barrier against the onslaught ofhurricanes and helped slow down the movement of the storms and reducethe storm surge before the storm reached habitable portions of thestate.

However, with the loss of valuable marsh grass, the soil becamesusceptible to erosion, and consequently miles of valuable coastlinewere lost. It is estimated that coastal erosion by the flow of the tideson a daily basis results in a loss of many square miles of coastline.Furthermore, the reduction in the marsh land has resulted in thereduction of protection from hurricane storm surge and wind velocity.Many believe that Hurricane Katrina was a prime example of a hurricanethat came ashore and because there was little marshland to hinder itswinds and surge, resulted in the enormous amount of wind and water to becarried far inland.

Therefore, there is a need in two vital areas. The first is a system,such as was provided by the barrier islands years ago, which wouldhinder or reduce the surge of tidal water inland during normal tidalcycles, and also during storms, so that the surge does not damage thecoastline. Second, there is a need for a system which would allow thewave action to move through the system, carrying with it tons of sandand other silt material, buoyant in the water, but the sand and siltbeing trapped between the system and the shoreline and forced to bedeposited and increase the solid material which would eventually formadditional coastline.

The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference:

TABLE ISSUE DATE PATENT NO. TITLE DD-MM-YYYY 3,373,568 System forReclamation of Land 03-19-1968 3,387,458 Seawall Structures 06-11-19653,632,508 Method and Apparatus for Desilting 01-04-1972 and/or DesaltingBodies of Water 4,367,978 Device for Preventing Beach Erosion 01-11-19834,479,740 Erosion Control Device and Method 10-30-1984 of Making andInstalling Same 4,708,521 Beach Building Block 11-24-1987 4,978,247Erosion Control Device 12-18-1990 7,029,200 Shoreline Erosion Barrier04-18-2006 7,165,912 Apparatus for Rebuilding a 01-23-2007 Sand Beach7,507,056 Apparatus for Controlling Movement 03-24-2009 of FlowableParticulate Material 2009/0154996 Shoreline and Coastal Protection and06-18-2009 Rebuilding Apparatus and Method 4,711,598 Beach ErosionControl Device 12-09-1997

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system of the present invention solves the problems in astraightforward manner. In a first principal embodiment, what isprovided is a transportable system to reduce tidal surge wave action andprovide land restoration along the shore of a body of water, such as acoastline, which includes a plurality of interconnected sections of thesystem, each section including a base, a forward wall, and a rear wall,having a plurality of fluid flow pipes extending from the forward wallto the rear wall, for allowing water including sediment to flow into thepipes at the forward wall and exit the pipes at the rear wall. There isfurther provided a one-way valve member at the rear wall exit of eachpipe, so that water carrying sediment cannot return through the pipe asthe wave action recedes from the coastline. To allow water to return tothe body of water, there is provided a flow opening including a weirbetween multiple sections so that water is able to flow therethrough.Each of the sections would be self-contained, and constructed of amaterial to allow each section to be floated or transported to alocation, wherein material, such as water, or the like, can be pumpedinto each section resulting in the section to sink and rest on the floorof the body of water, with an upper portion of the section extending adistance above the water surface. The sections would be interconnectedand anchored to the floor, so as to provide a continuous system,interrupted only by the water return outlets as stated earlier.

The systems described above would further provide inlet and outletvalves on each individual section for allowing material to be pumpedinto each section in order to sink each section as described earlier;and when sections have to be transported to another location the valvingwould allow the material to be pumped from each section, resulting ineach section becoming buoyant and transportable or barged to anotherlocation to be reassembled into multi-sections as described earlier.

Further, it is foreseen that the forward wall of each section wouldinclude a shelf or shoulder extending outward below each row of waterflow pipes so as to catch any sediment that may not flow through thepipes initially, but would be carried through by a subsequent waveaction.

In another embodiment, the system as described above would include asecondary system stationed in the water ahead of the system, which wouldinclude one or multiple barges, each barge having an air compressorsystem, preferably powered by wind and solar energy, to buildupcompressed air in tanks, and upon water reaching a certain level,automatically releasing the compressed air through openings at the endsof a plurality of air lines which would be able to rove along the waterbottom, resulting in the pressurized air stirring and fluffing up sandand silt from the water bottom. This would provide a great amount ofadditional sand and silt becoming suspended in the water and beingcarried through the land restoration system and deposited between thesystem and the coastline, thus greatly increasing the amount of sedimentbuilt up between the system and the coastline.

It is foreseen that as sediment is built up, as described above, theentire system could be relocated to another position in order to buildup sediment in another area. The entire system could stretch over ashort distance, or it could stretch over miles of coastline, dependingon the need in an area.

In the most simple embodiment of the system, it is foreseen that when arock jetty or dam is constructed, as of the type which will dam theopening of the “Mr Go” Channel in South Louisiana, a plurality of flowpipes of the type described above could be positioned through the rockdam, so that some water carrying sediment could flow through the pipes,but not an amount to cause a tidal surge, and in doing so would bedepositing sediment on the land side of the dam, so that over timesediment is deposited to the point of resulting in land accumulation.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention toconstruct a device that would suppress the energy of a wave toeffectively break down the energy in a wave; use the energy of the waveto help collect sediment; and use the energy of the wave to help rebuildcoastal south Louisiana.

It is a second principal object of the present invention to protect theenvironment by helping to collect sediment and protect the existingshore line, and helping to collect sediment and protect the existinglevee systems exposed to open water.

It is a third principal object of the present invention to speedupsediment recovery by holding and preventing the sediment from leavingthe confined area and returning to open water and be lost forever.

It is a fourth principal object of the present invention to act assecondary sediment barriers by confining sediment to certain areas, andusing this newly developed method of keeping sediment suspended so as totake advantage of the energy found in the waves.

It is a fifth principal object of the present invention to provide abarrier made from concrete or recycled rubber material which is designedto float or made of a light material is (HDPE) high density polyethylene, or lightweight concrete designed to float, or that can be madefrom recycled rubber, such as used tires, or use the most economicalmaterial.

It is a sixth principal object of the present invention to recycle thebarrier device by removing the water from inside the barrier and floator barge to a new site and use it again.

It is a seventh principal object of the present invention to use thebarrier wall as sediment retainer when sediment is pumped from a knownsource.

It is an eighth principal object of the present invention to provide adesignated pipeline used to move sediment from a river by retaining mostof the sediment if not all of it; stopping erosion of newly depositedmaterial; and stopping polluting and contaminating areas that otherwiseare not designed to receive any sediment.

It is a ninth principal object of the present invention to provide weirsstrategically located to maximize the sediment recovery; and

It is a tenth principal object of the present invention to be an islandbuilder by completely surrounding an area, letting the waves bring thesediment and building up the island.

It is a further principal object of the present invention to provide asystem which will be constructed and applied in such a way as to have noadverse effect of the ecology of the environment the WSSC System isplaced into.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages ofthe present invention, reference should be had to the following detaileddescription, read in conjunction with the following drawings, whereinlike reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a section in a preferredembodiment of the WSSC System of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cutaway view along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1 of a preferredembodiment of the WSSC System of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear partial cutaway view along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1 in apreferred embodiment of the WSSC System of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate the method of installing the components ofthe WSSC System of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial overall view of a preferred embodiment of the WSSCSystem of the present invention being anchored in place while alsoillustrating water returning through the a weir between sections;

FIG. 9 illustrates a typical anchor utilized to anchor sections into thewater bottom in the WSSC System of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is another side cutaway of a preferred embodiment of the WSSCSystem of the present invention illustrating water carrying sedimentthrough the system;

FIG. 11 is a side cutaway of a preferred embodiment of the WSSC Systemof the present invention illustrating sediment buildup to the rear ofthe system;

FIG. 12A is an aerial view of the WSSC System in place along a shorelinein a body of water;

FIG. 12B is an aerial view of the WSSC System in place along a shorelinein a body of water with sediment being pumped in via a pipe from theshore;

FIG. 13 is an overall view of a system utilized to stir up sediment tobe carried by the water through the WSSC System of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is an aerial view of the sediment being stirred up by the systemdescribed in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view along lines 15-15 in FIG. 14, which illustrates one ofthe buoys used to support the net surrounding the sediment stirringsystem illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is an overall view of an alternative embodiment of a sectionused in the WSSC System of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a side cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of a sectiontaken along lines 17-17 in FIG. 16;

FIGS. 18 through 24 illustrate the principal embodiment of the WSSCSystem of the present invention as it would be installed to functionpositioned through a rock jetty;

FIG. 25 illustrates a second embodiment of the WSSC System as it wouldbe installed within a rock jetty;

FIGS. 26A and 26B illustrate overall top views yet an additionalembodiment of the WSSC System as it would be installed within a rockjetty;

FIG. 27 illustrates isolated top views of two components of the WSSCSystem as illustrated in FIG. 26A;

FIG. 28 illustrates an isolated top view of a single component of theWSSC System of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 26B;

FIG. 29 illustrates a cross-section view of the WSSC System along lines29-29 in FIGS. 27 and 28;

FIG. 30 illustrates a top view of the collection component of the WSSCSystem installed within a rock jetty and terminating on its end in acontinuous trough for receiving the water and sediment flow into thecollection component;

FIG. 31 illustrates a cross-section view of the multiple layers ofcollection pipes in a collection component of the WSSC System and afirst embodiment of the construction of the continuous trough forreceiving the flow of water and sediment into the collection component;

FIGS. 32A and 32B illustrate cross-section views of a single collectionpipe in a collection component of the WSSC System and the firstembodiment of the construction of the continuous trough for receivingthe flow of water and sediment into the collection component;

FIGS. 33A through 33C illustrate cutaway views of the troughs secured tothe ends of the collection pipes used in the first embodiment of theconstruction of the continuous trough used in the WSSC System;

FIG. 34 illustrates a cross-section view of the multiple layers ofcollection pipes in a collection component of the WSSC System and asecond embodiment of the construction of the continuous trough forreceiving the flow of water and sediment into the collection component;

FIGS. 35A and 35B illustrate cross-section views of a single collectionpipe in a collection component of the WSSC System and the secondembodiment of the construction of the continuous trough for receivingthe flow of water and sediment into the collection component; and

FIGS. 36A through 36C illustrate cutaway views of the troughs secured tothe ends of the collection pipes used in the second embodiment of theconstruction of the continuous trough used in the WSSC System.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 36C illustrate a preferred embodiment of the WaveSuppressor and Sediment Collection (WSSC) System 10 of the presentinvention, as seen in overall aerial view in FIG. 12A, where the system10 is in place near a shoreline 15. However, for details of the WSSCsystem 10, reference is made to various drawing FIGS. 1 through 17, asit would be used as a free-standing system. FIGS. 18 through 25illustrate a first embodiment of the WSSC System positioned within arock jetty, FIGS. 26A through 36C illustrate a second embodiment of theWSSC System positioned within a rock jetty. Before reference is made tothe WSSC System installed through a rock jetty, the WSSC System will bedescribed when in is self-standing in place near a shore line as setforth in FIGS. 1 through 17.

The WSSC System 10 of the present invention comprises a plurality ofsections 12 that will be more fully described in FIGS. 1 through 3. Asillustrated, each section 12 includes a base 14 for resting on a seafloor 16. There is provided a pair of substantially triangular shapedside walls 18, 20 a rear wall 22 and sloped top wall 24, all togetherdefining an interior space 26 therein. It is foreseen that each section12 would be fabricated from a material, such as rubber, from discardedtires, or other material, such as high density poly ethylene (HDPE) orconcrete, if necessary. Each section 12 further comprises a plurality oftubular members 28, such as PVC pipe having a certain diameter,preferably set in three rows 30, the tubular members 28 extending fromthe top wall 24, through the space 26 and terminating in the rear wall22. Each tubular member has a flow bore 31 therethrough for allowingwater 32 carrying sediment 34 (See FIG. 10, e.g.) to flow from a pointin front of each section 12, through each tubular member 28, and exitthrough the rear opening 35 of each tubular member 28, through the rearwall 22 to a point to the rear of each section 12, into the area 37between the system 10 and a shoreline, as will be described further. Asseen in side view in FIG. 2, each tubular member 28 has a slight inclinefrom its top wall 24 to the rear wall 22 to facilitate flow of water 32and sediment 34 through each member 28. The upper and middle sections 12include a shelf or shoulder 36 across the width of the top wall 24, butnot the bottom section 12. It should be noted that shelf 36 could alsobe used on the first row if needed and would not cause scouring of sandor other sediment under the unit. An illustration where this isapplicable is found in FIG. 25 where the rock jetty extends beyond thelower edge of each unit. In that Figure, the rock jetty extends beyondthe unit preventing a backwash.

The importance of the shoulder/shelf 36 cannot be overemphasized, andthe effects it has on waves and how it helps in collection additionalsediment. In the upward movement of a wave, the shelf 36 shears part ofthe wave, breaking up the wave and dispersing of some of the energy,while redirecting some of the wave energy, thus forcing water andsediment into the tubular member. Downward movement or retreating wave,shears part of the wave, breaking up the wave and dispersing of some ofthe energy, while redirecting some of the wave energy, thus forcingwater and sediment into the tubular member. The shelf 36 also catchesany additional sediment; i.e., sediment that did not flow in the tubularmember will remain trapped because of the shoulder/shelf location to thetubular opening. The next wave will wash this additional sedimentthrough the tubular member. The shoulder/shelf location and design makesthe collection of sediment more efficient.

Each shelf 36 set below the second and third rows 30 of tubular members28, as seen in FIG. 1, would catch any sediment 34 which did not flowinto the tubular members 28, and would be washed through with the nextwave of water 32. Also, as seen in FIG. 3, at the rear opening 34 ofeach tubular member 28 there is provided a one way flapper valve 40, ofthe type known in the industry, which would allow the water 32 carryingsediment 34 to exit the tubular member 28, but would not allow the water32 and sediment 34 to return into the tubular member 28, once thevalving member 42 of valve 40 closes. Finally, although this will bedescribed more fully, each section 12 is provided with an inlet valve 44and outlet valve 46 on its top wall 24 to allow water or other substanceto be pumped into and out of the interior space 26, for reasons to beexplained further.

As was stated earlier, the WSSC System 10 is comprised of a plurality ofsections 12 to make up the entire system along a shoreline or the like.FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate the manner in which each section is placedon site in the body of water. In FIG. 4 there is seen a barge 50carrying a typical section 12, as described above, the section 12 havingthe capability to be hoisted from the barge 50 by a crane on the barge50. As seen in FIG. 5, the section 12 has been lifted from barge 50 bycable 52 and placed in the body of water 60, where because of the space26 within the closed section 12, the section 12 is buoyant and able tofloat. Next, as seen in FIG. 6, a boat 54 would tow the section 12 to adesired point in the body of water 60. Once in place, a flow line 62would be attached to the inlet valve 44 on section 12, and water orother fluid (arrows 63) would be pumped into the interior space 26 of asufficient quantity in order to allow section 12 to rest on the seafloor 16. This process would be repeated for each section 12 brought onsite.

As will be described further, the multiple sections 12 would be attachedto one another and anchored to the sea floor 16, as seen in FIG. 8. Inthis Figure, there is provided a plurality of sections 12 attached toone another along their side walls 18, 20. It should be noted that sincethe water 32 carrying the sediment 34 is unable to return to a point infront of the section 12, due to the action of the one way flow valve 40as described earlier, there must be a means by which the water 32 isallowed to return to the open sea 61, FIG. 8 illustrates a flow opening64 set at intervals between multiple sections 12, the opening 64including a weir 66 in place, so that the water 32 is able to flow overthe weir 66 and return to the open sea 61, but the weir 66 preventssediment 34 from being carried back into the open sea 61, so that thesediment is collected between the system 10 and the shoreline.

As seen also in FIG. 8, there is provided a system for anchoring thevarious sections 12 of the system 10 to the sea floor 16. As illustratedeach section includes a plurality of anchor loops 68 along the front andrear bottom edges 70 of the top wall 24, which would serve to engage thetop anchor portion 72 of an elongated anchoring member 74, as seen inFIG. 9, that would be bored into the sea floor 16, and once in place, asseen in FIG. 9, would be attached to each anchor loop 68, to hold eachsection 12 in place. As seen in FIG. 8, each section 12 would havepreferably three anchor loops 68 along its front edge, and three alongits rear edge, each loop secured to the anchor portion 72 of threemembers 74.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the manner in which the system 10 operates tosuppress wave action while at the same time collecting sediment to therear of the system 10. Periodic waves going over the units or sectionsare not necessarily harmful; these waves carry larger volumes ofsediment meaning more sediment will be collected and recovered. Asillustrated first in side cutaway view in FIG. 10, each section 12 whileresting on the sea floor 16, the upper part 17 of the triangular shapedsection 12, as seen in side view, is extending out of the water. Thisfeature is important, since by extending out of the water, it will serveas a partial barrier or will serve to suppress the action of the wave 80as the wave 80 flows by the system 10, which would be beneficial to thecoast line by reducing or eliminating erosion of precious coast line.

While the system 10 is serving that function, its second and equallyimportant function is also illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Asillustrated the water 32 in wave 80 crosses the system 10, the water 32is carrying a certain quantity of sediment 34 stirred up from the seafloor 16. The water 32 and sediment 34 flow through the plurality oftubular members 28 and sediment is deposited to the area 84 of the seato the rear of the system 10. As the waves 80 continue to flow over andthrough the system 10, more and more sediment 34 is collected in thearea 84, and the water flows back to the sea through openings 64 formedin the system 10. As seen in FIG. 11, the sediment 34 has collected to aheight where the lowermost tubular members 28 are completed blocked bythe build up of sediment 34. This buildup may continue until thesediment 34 builds higher to a point where the flow through the members28 could be completely blocked. This would be the point at which thesystem 10 would need to be moved further out from the shoreline if sodesired.

This would be accomplished by removing the anchors 72 from each section,placing the flow line 62 onto the outlet valve 46 on each section 12,and pumping the fluid out of the interior 26 of each section 12. Thesection 12 would become buoyant once more, and the reverse steps wouldbe taken as seen in FIGS. 4 through 7. The boat 54 would tow eachsection 12, where a cable would be attached to the section 12, whichwould then be lifted onto a barge 50 and floated to the nextdestination. If the destination were close by, the boat 54 could simplytow the section 12 to the location without having to lift the section 12onto a barge 50. Then steps 4 through 7 would be repeated in placingeach section 12 at its new location, where together the sections 12would form a new system 10 within the body of water.

Following the discussion of the manner in which the system 10 operates,reference is made to FIG. 12A, where an entire system 10 has beenanchored in place to the sea floor 16 and along a shoreline 15, withboth ends 11 of the system 10 anchored to the shoreline 15, to encompassa certain area of a bay or water inlet. In FIG. 12A, the system 10, inits operation, as will be described below, is seen with the plurality ofsections 12, secured side by side, with openings 64 placed betweenmultiple sections 12, to allow the tide to return to the sea, throughthe openings 64, and each opening 64 having a weir 66 in place to stopsediment 34 to return to the open sea. So, in effect, the system 10, isoperating to collect sediment 34 in the water between the system 10 andthe shoreline 15, while at the same time suppressing the wave actionwhich damages the coastline. It should be made clear that the system 10,for example, as seen in FIG. 12A, could be arranged in a differentconfiguration other than a straight line, side by side, so as to takeadvantage of currents as well as wave actions in a particular body ofwater.

Another feature of the system's operation is seen in FIG. 12B. As seenin this Figure, the system 10 is in place as described in FIG. 12A.However, here there is a pipe 130 which is delivering sediment 34 beingpumped from a location inland and flowing from the end 132 of pipe 130into the bay or inlet, as seen by arrows 39. With the system 10 inplace, the sediment is captured within the confines of the system 10,within area 37, and will not escape, although water flow will continuethrough the spaces 64 where the weirs 66 are in place. Therefore, notonly is sediment 34 being deposited from the normal wave action of thesea, but also additional sediment 34 is being pumped in and kept inplace by the barrier formed by system 10.

Returning now to the system 10, as was stated earlier, a most importantaspect of this system 10 is the collection of sediment 34 to helprebuild an eroded coastline or other sea area. To facilitate thatfunction, further, reference is made to FIGS. 13 through 15. In theseFigures there is seen a system for providing a greater quantity ofbuoyant sediment 34 in the water which will be flowing through thesystem toward the coastline. As illustrated first in FIG. 13, there isprovided a specially equipped barge 90 which would include componentsthat would be powered by wind and solar power. There is provided awindmill 92 on the barge which would be of the type to provide power tobe stored in batteries for powering equipment on the barge 90. Therewould also be provided a bank of solar panels 96, again to supply asource of power to be stored in batteries for powering equipment on thebarge. The barge 90 would include generators which would power aircompressors 99 for compressing air into storage tanks 100. The storagetanks 100 would have a plurality of air lines 98 extending from thebarge 90 to the sea floor 16. There would be an automatic system forreleasing the compressed air from the tanks 100 through the lines 98 toexit at nozzles at the end of the lines 98. The compressed air beingreleased would stir up the sediment 34 on the sea bed 16, which wouldallow the waves 80 to carry a great quantity of additional sediment 34through the system 10 to be deposited at an even greater rate. Since thebarge system is automatic, the flow of air would be triggered by timersor the like, and would be shut off so that the air compressors 99 couldre-fill the tanks 100 with compressed air. The barge 90, of course,could change locations as needed for the system 10 to gain maximum useof the flow of additional sediment 34 through the system 10.

FIG. 14 illustrates an aerial view of the system 10 using the speciallyequipped barge 90 in inducing the flow of additional sediment 34. Asillustrated, while the barge 90 is being used, there would be provided anet 102 in place around the outer perimeter of the system 10, with thenet 102 held in place by a plurality of spaced apart anchored buoys 104,of the type illustrated in FIG. 15, so that water 32 and sediment 34flow through the net 102, but sea life is prevented from moving into thearea where it could be injured or killed by the air flow lines operatingon the floor 16 of the sea. It should be made clear that in place of net102 there could be provided a sediment barrier set in place, of the typecommercially available in the art.

While the system 10 as described above is very capable of achieving theends desired, it is foreseen that each section 12 may be configuredslightly different than that as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.Reference is made to FIGS. 16 and 17, where there is illustrated asection 112, where the top wall 26 of the section 112 has been changedfrom the flat top wall 26 of section 12 as seen in FIG. 1, to a seriesof steps 113, where the floor 117 of each step 113 would be slated downto the entry 119 of each tubular member 28. Therefore, as water 32 andsediment 34 would wash across each section 112, the water 32 andsediment 34 would flow down along the floor 117 of each step 113, in thedirection of arrows 121, so that the area 123 at the entrance of eachtubular member 28 would serve as a collection area for sediment 34,until the sediment 34 is carried into and through the tubular members 28by the next wave or tidal action. This configuration would providegreater assurance that the maximum amount of sediment 34 is beingcaptured at the front of the section 112, so that it can be movedthrough the members 28 to the rear of the section 112 for greaterbuilding of sediment were desired.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 18 through 24, where a first embodimentof the WSSC System, labeled System 200 is incorporated into a rock jetty150, of the type which has been constructed to block the entrance to thewaterway referred to as Mr. Go in South Louisiana. As illustrated in topviews in FIGS. 19 through 21, there is provided a rock jetty 150 intowhich the system 200 is incorporated. In FIG. 21, taken along lines21-21 in FIG. 18, it is foreseen that the base 152 of the jetty 150would be laid in place, and then a plurality of elongated pipes 202would extend from the forward point 156 of jetty 150, in this case threepipe sections 202 to the rear point 158 of rock jetty 150. At theforward point 156, the three pipes 202 would extend from a trough 208,as illustrated in FIG. 24, having an upright rear wall 210, a angulatedfloor 212, and a pair of side walls 214, so that the trough 208 wouldserve to capture the flow or water 32 carrying sediment 34, and theangulated floor 212 would direct the water and sediment into theentrance 216 to the pipes 202 more efficiently, to be carried to therear of the jetty 150. The pipe sections 202 in this lower level ofpipes 202 would terminate and dump water 32 and sediment 34 to the rearof the jetty 150, and each pipe would be equipped with a flapper valve40 to maintain the sediment 34 in place. FIG. 20 illustrates the secondlevel of pipes as shown along lines 20-20 in

FIG. 18. This second or middle level of pipes 202 would capture water 32and sediment 34 in the same manner as described in FIG. 21, but in thiscase, the pipes 202 would all diverge and empty into a principal flowpipe 203, somewhat larger in diameter, to carry the water and sedimentfurther to the rear of jetty 150, as will be described further.

FIG. 19 illustrates the three pipes 202 at the upper most level in jetty150, as seen along lines 19-19 in FIG. 18. This group of pipes 202 wouldalso collect water 32 and sediment 34 in the same manner as the lowerand middle sections. However, because the upper section of pipes 202 arepositioned higher, the pipes 202 would be diverted downward, as seen inFIG. 18, to dump into the principal flow pipe 203 to be carriedrearward.

In FIG. 22 there is illustrated WSSC System 200 in side view where theprincipal pipe 203, as described earlier, is extending rearward to apredetermined distance, and is supported in its path by a plurality ofupright piers or pilings 205, until the rear end 206 of the pipe reachesits destination. In this embodiment, the pipe 203 is carrying water 32and sediment 34 to a point 215 where sediment 34 has been depositedearlier. Therefore, additional sediment 34 will be dumped so as tocontinue to build up sediment in the direction of arrow 216. As seen inFIG. 23, once the pipe 203 has deposited sediment at its end to theheight desired, a section of principal flow pipe 203 is removed, and thesediment 34 will continue to dump sediment 34 so that the sedimentbuildup continues to fill the gap between the furthest point from thejetty 150, until theoretically, sediment 34 is built up to the base ofjetty 150. Since in the case of the waterway Mr. Go, not only would thewaterway be closed via the rock jetty 150, but with this system 200 inplace, the entire body of water between the jetty 150 and the far end ofthe Mr. Go waterway, could be filled with sediment 150, simply throughthe constant wave action of the sea. The result is the rebuilding ofvaluable coastline which has been eroded away in the past.

Although FIGS. 18 through 24 illustrate a preferred embodiment forestablishing the WSSC System through a rock jetty 150, it is foreseenthat the WSSC System 10 as described in FIGS. 1 through 17 could beplaced within a rock jetty 150, as seen in FIG. 25. When the system 10is placed within a rock jetty it may be required that the system isanchored in place so that the strong storm currents won't dislodge theunits. An additional shoulder/shelf 36 could be used in thisconfiguration because it would not cause a backwash below the base ofthe rock jetty. The base of the rock jetty protrudes beyond the base ofthe unit preventing the backwash from developing. Rather than the water32 entering the trough 208, there would be provided a plurality ofsections 12, as previously described, for receiving the water 32 andsediment 34 into flow pipes 28, and the rear end of each section 12,rather than having a valve 40, the water 32 carrying sediment 34 wouldflow into flow pipes 202, which would then flow into principal pipe 203,and the system would operate in the manner as described in FIGS. 18through 24. Although FIG. 25 illustrates the units set up in pairs whichare spaced apart, it is foreseen that a plurality of two or more unitsin a group could be set along the rock jetty.

In the principal embodiment of the system 10, as described in FIGS. 1through 17, it is foreseen that each section is constructed of a buoyanttype material, such as rubber from old tires; that each section would beapproximately 12 feet (3.7 m) long and 12 feet (3.7 m) wide, with therear wall approximately 6 feet (1.8 m) at its highest point, and thefront wall angulated to be around 13.5 feet (4.11 m) in length. Thepipes would be preferably PVC material, and would be around 1 foot (0.3m) in diameter.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 26A-33C, which illustrate the secondembodiment of the WSSC System as it would be installed through a rockjetty 150 and will be illustrated as WSSC System 300.

Turning now to FIGS. 26A and 26B, there is illustrated a body of water60 having a current illustrated by arrows 65, flowing towards a rockjetty 150 as illustrated. In FIG. 27 there is a plurality of sedimentcollection components 302, which will be described below, positionedthrough the rock jetty 150 for the reasons as will be described further.As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 27, there is provided a singlesediment collection component 302, extending through a rock jetty 150.The principal function of each of the components 302 is to receive waterand sediment through the component 302 from the unprotected side 151 ofthe jetty 150 to the protected side 153 of the jetty 150 in order toenable sediment to be carried through the components 302 from theunprotected side 151 of the jetty 150, to the protected side 153, sothat the sediment can form dry land up on the protected side 153 of thejetty 150. As illustrated in top view in FIG. 27, the component 302includes the principal flow pipe 304 having a first sediment receivingend 306 extending out of the unprotected side 151 of the jetty 150, anda second outflow point 308 extending a distance outward from theprotected side 153 of the jetty 150.

It should be known that FIGS. 27 and 28 should be viewed in conjunctionwith

FIG. 29 which illustrates a side view of the component 302. In the sideview, it is noted that the principal pipe 304 has an upper sedimentreceiving pipe 310 with a first end 312 extending from the unprotectedside 151 of the jetty 150, and extending through the rock jetty 150 andterminating at a second end 314, which connects into the wall of theprincipal pipe 304 on the protected side 153 of the jetty 150.Additionally, as seen in FIG. 29, there is seen a lower level pipe 316with a first end 317 extending into the jetty 150 and terminating at asecond end 318 a distance from the protected side 153 of the jetty 150.It should be noted that lower pipe 316 does not flow into principal pipe304, since to do so would be flowing against gravity, which is notbeneficial. The principal pipe 304, upper flow pipe 310 and lower flowpipe 316, as illustrated, are all supported on the protected side 153 ofthe jetty 150 by a support structure 330, so that the pipes aremaintained at a slight angle extending from the sediment collectionpoints on the unprotected side 151 of the jetty 150 downward at an angleto the protected side 153 of the jetty 150, so that the sediment andwater collections through the various collection pipes and is depositedat an outflow point 308 of the collection pipe system 300.

Turning now to FIG. 30, there is illustrated a top view of the component302 which includes a pair of side collection pipes 334, 335, extendingfrom the unprotected side 151 of the jetty 150 at the same level as theprincipal collection pipe 304, and flowing into the principal collectionpipe 304 at a point past the protected side 153 of the jetty, so that asillustrated, only the principal flow pipe 304 deposits the sediment 400at the outflow point 308, together with the lower flow pipe 316, asexplained earlier. Also illustrated in FIG. 30 is a feature which allowssediment to be deposited on either side of the end of collection pipe304. This feature would include a swivel 404 at the end of pipe 304which would engage an additional length of collection pipe 304, and asseen in phantom view, the length of collection pipe 304 past the swivelpoint 404 would be able to swivel left and right from the maincollection pipe 304 to deposit sediment 400 in other areas. It isfurther foreseen that as long as the system is in place in jetty 150, intheory, the collection pipes 304 could continue to deposit sediment on acontinuing basis, so that any excess sediment could be moved todifferent areas needing sediment.

An interesting facet of this embodiment of the collection system 300 isthe means in which the sediment and water is allowed to flow into thevarious collection pipes 304, 310, 316, 334 and 335 of each component302. As seen in FIGS. 31-33C, the upper collection pipe 310 terminateswith an upper opening 315 on the unprotected side 151 of the jetty 150,principal collection pipe 304 and side pipes 334, 335 terminate atopenings at a lower point outside the jetty 150, and the lowercollection pipe 316 terminates at the lowest point outside the jetty150, all in order to collect the sediment 400 being carried by water(see also FIG. 28 showing openings 315). At each of these three levelsof pipe openings 315 of the collection pipes, there is provided asediment collection component, which will be defined as a collectiontrough 340, which would be a continuous trough along the length of thejetty where the collection system 300 is placed. Each trough 340, asseen in side view in FIGS. 31 and 32A and 32B, would comprise a flatsurface 343, secured into the rock jetty 150 via mounting pins 344driven into the face of the jetty 150. There is provided a triangulartrough portion 340 having a face secured to the jetty 150, and lowersupport wall 345 extending upward at an angle, and supporting the floor347 of the trough 340, with the floor 347 angulated toward the opening315 in each collection pipe so that water and sediment 400 flowing inthe direction of arrow 350 would engage the floor portion 347of thetrough 340, and would force gravity flow into the pipe opening 315 inthe direction of arrows 350. Further, there is provided an upper filterscreen 354 which extends throughout the length of the collection systemtrough 340, so that any large debris or any rocks falling off the rockjetty would not fall into the collection area 357 of the trough 340which collects the water and sediment for flowing into the variouspipes. Therefore, this would provide a means for preventing any cloggingup of the trough 340 into which the water and sediment is collectedduring the collection process. As a point of information, in FIG. 31there is illustrated the normal water line 500. The lower most trough340 would be positioned below the water line 500 and the two uppertroughs 340 would be positioned above the water line 500, which wouldresult in the troughs 340 collecting sediment 400 above the normal waterline due to the wave action of the body of water. The water line 500 isalso seen in FIG. 29 where there is illustrated also a depiction of awave 502 which is above the water line 500 and will deposit sediment inthe upper troughs 340, those above the water line 500.

Turning now to FIG. 34, there is seen an additional embodiment of thecollection trough 340 as we discussed earlier in regard to FIGS. 31-33C.In this particular embodiment, there is provided the lower floor portion347 as an extension of the collection pipes, and not at an angle as seenin FIGS. 32A and 32B. The floor 347 would terminate at an upright wall348, that would terminate at an angulated upper shelf 349, with theouter support wall 345 extending down to the flat surface 343 secured tothe jetty 150. In this trough 340 configuration, like the embodimentseen in the FIGS. 32 A and B, would also have the filter screen 354extending from the face of the jetty 150 to the upper shelf 349, so thatwater and sediment would flow through the screen 354 and would becollected first on the floor portion 347 and would then flow into thepipe openings 315. Therefore, it is foreseen that this would enablegreater flow with the water and sediment into the pipes in thisparticular embodiment.

The embodiment describe in FIG. 34, is seen clearly in FIGS. 35A and35B, except that in FIG. 35B, there is no protective screen 354, butthere is an open flow area 357 into the various collection pipes, asopposed to FIG. 35B which shows that there is in fact a protectivescreen 354 for preventing large rocks and other debris from flowing intothe area 357.

For purposes of construction, as seen more clearly in FIGS. 31 and 32Aand B, the area 360 formed by the outer wall 345 and floor 347 in bothembodiments of trough 340 would be filled with water 361, for example,in order to give the troughs more weight against being dislodged fromthe wall of the jetty 150 in the event of a storm, for example.

FIG. 36A represents a longitudinal view of the embodiment shown in FIG.35A with no collection screen 354 in place, while FIGS. 36B and 36Cillustrate longitudinal views of the embodiment of the collection trough340, as illustrated in 35B with the protective screen 354 in place.

The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in thepresent invention.

PARTS LIST Part Number Description 10 WSSC System 12 section 14 base 15shoreline 16 sea floor 17 upper part 18, 20 side walls 22 rear wall 24top wall 26 interior space 28 tubular members 30 rows 31 flow bore 32water 34 sediment 35 rear opening 36 shoulder/shelf 37 space 39 arrows40 flapper valve 42 valving member 44 inlet valve 46 outlet valve 50barge 52 cable 54 boat 60 body of water 61 open sea 62 flow line 63arrows 64 flow opening 65 arrows 66 weir 68 anchor loop 70 bottom edge72 top anchor portion 74 elongated anchoring member 80 wave 84 area 90barge 92 windmill 96 solar panel 98 air line 99 air compressor 100storage tank 102 net 104 buoy 112 section 113 step 117 floor 119 entry121 arrow 123 area 130 pipe 132 end 150 rock jetty 151 unprotected side152 base 153 protected side 154 exit pipe 156 forward point 158 rearpoint 200 WSSC System 202 elongated pipes 203 principal flow pipe 205pilings 206 rear end 208 trough 210 rear wall 212 angulated floor 214side walls 215 point 216 entrance 300 WSSC system 302 collectioncomponent 304 principal flow pipe 306 sediment receiving end 308 outflowpoint 310 upper sediment receiving pipe 312 first end 314 second end 315opening 316 lower sediment receiving pipe 317 first end 318 second end330 support structure 334, 335 side collection pipes 340 collectiontrough 343 flat surface 344 mounting pins 345 lower support wall 347floor 348 upright wall 349 upper shelf 350 arrows 354 filter screen 357collection area 360 area 361 water 400 sediment 402 arrow 403 dry land404 swivel 500 water line 502 wave

All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature andpressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. Allmaterials used or intended to be used in a human being arebiocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; thescope of the present invention is to be limited only by the followingclaims.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A method to provide water and sediment flow througha dam or a water barrier, comprising the following steps: a) positioningat least one flow pipe through a body of the dam or water barrier toreceive water carrying sediment and flow to a rear of the dam or waterbarrier, and positioning a trough at or near an entrance of the at leastone flow pipe, the trough operable to capture the water carryingsediment at the entrance and to facilitate flow of the water carryingsediment through the at least one flow pipe; b) flowing the water andsediment from the at least one flow pipe into a principal flow pipe thatextends a desired distance to the rear of the dam or water barrier; andc) allowing the water and sediment to exit the principal flow pipe andbe deposited.
 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising positioningat least two flow pipes through the dam or water barrier, wherein eachof the at least two flow pipes is operable to flow water carryingsediment to the principal flow pipe.
 19. The method of claim 18 whereinthe principal flow pipe is an extension of one of the at least two flowpipes.
 20. The method in claim 18, further comprising a filter screencovering an entrance of the at least one trough to allow water andsediment to flow into the at least one trough and to prevent large rocksand other debris from entering the at least one trough.
 21. A system toprovide water and sediment flow through a dam or barrier, comprising: a)at least one principal flow pipe positioned through a body of the dam orbarrier to receive water carrying sediment through a first end of the atleast one principal flow pipe; b) wherein the principal flow pipe isoperable to flow the water and sediment to a rear of the dam or barrier;and c) at least one trough mounted on a water side of the dam orbarrier, the at least one trough operable to shear or break a wave anddisperse some wave energy contacting the water side of the barrier andto redirect and use the wave energy to direct sediment to flow into theat least one principal flow pipe to flow the sediment to the rear of therock barrier.
 22. The system of claim 21 further comprising one or moreadditional flow pipes positioned through the dam or barrier.
 23. Thesystem of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of flow pipespositioned through the dam or barrier for receiving water carryingsediment, the said plurality of flow pipes operable to flow the watercarrying sediment to the at least one principal flow pipe.
 24. Thesystem in claim 21 further comprising at least one removable section onthe principal flow pipe, the at least one removable section operable tobe removed from the principal flow pipe when a desired quantity ofsediment has been deposited, wherein removal of the at least oneremovable section enables additional sediment to be deposited nearer tothe dam or barrier.
 25. The system in claim 24 wherein the principalflow pipe further comprises two or more removable sections that areremovable as desired until the sediment deposited reaches a base of thedam or barrier.
 26. The system in claim 25, further comprising a filterscreen covering an entrance of the at least one trough to allow waterand sediment to flow into the at least one trough and to prevent largerocks and other debris from entering the at least one trough.
 27. Amethod of suppressing wave action against a shoreline and collectingsediment to build up the shoreline, comprising: a) providing at leastone section, the at least one section having at least one sidewall andhaving at least one flow pipe extending between a front wall and a rearwall of the at least one section; b) providing at least one shelfextending out from the front wall, the at least one shelf positioned forshearing a wave and dispersing wave energy contacting the front wall,while redirecting and using the wave energy to direct water and sedimentflow into the at least one flow pipe and for collecting sediment that isnot carried into the at least one flow pipe and settles on the at leastone shelf for being contacted by a following wave to carry the sedimentinto the at least one flow pipe; c) flowing the water and sediment fromthe at least one flow pipe into a principal flow pipe that extends adesired distance to a rear of the section; and d) allowing the water andsediment to exit the principal flow pipe and be deposited.
 28. Themethod of claim 27 wherein the at least one section is incorporated intoa dam or barrier.
 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising aplurality of sections.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the pluralityof sections are each incorporated into a dam or barrier.
 31. The methodin claim 30, wherein the at least one flow pipe of each section is influid communication with at least the principal flow pipe.
 32. Themethod in claim 31 wherein the plurality of sections are spaced apart inintervals along the dam or barrier.
 33. The method in claim 32, furtherincluding an anchoring system for anchoring each of the plurality ofsections to a base of the dam or rock barrier.
 34. A system forsuppressing wave action against a shoreline and for collecting sedimentto build up the shoreline, comprising: a) at least one section, the atleast one section having at least one sidewall, and at least one flowpipe extending between a front wall and a rear wall of the at least onesection; b) a principal flow pipe extending a desired distance to a rearof the section, wherein the at least one flow pipe and principal flowpipe are in fluid communication with one another and the at least oneflow pipe is operable to flow fluid and sediment to the desired distanceto the rear of the section; and c) providing at least one shelfextending out from the front wall, the at least one shelf positioned forshearing a wave and dispersing wave energy contacting the front wall,while redirecting and using the wave energy to direct sediment flow intothe at least one flow pipe and for collecting sediment that is notcarried into the at least one flow pipe and settles on the at least oneshelf for being contacted by a following wave to carry the sediment intothe at least one flow pipe.
 35. The system in claim 34, furthercomprising a plurality of flow pipes, at least two of which are in fluidcommunication with the principal flow pipe and wherein the plurality offlow pipes are positioned at multiple heights or levels through thesection.
 36. The system of claim 35 wherein the principal flow pipe isan extension of one of said flow pipes.